Thermostat



y 1, 1954 c. H. DICKE 2,678,432

THERMOSTAT Original Filed March 13, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FF 64M 0 dA/(flll TH Jill" M fwdi i May 11, 1954 c. H. DICKE 2,578,432

THERMOSTAT Original Filed March 13, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 as, MMQ'f/I Patented May 11, 1954 THERMOSTAT Carl H. Dicke, New Bremen, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Crown Controls Company, Inc., Bremen, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application March 13, 1946, Serial No.

1948, Serial No. 24,530

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in thermostats and this application comprises a division of my application for patent Serial No. 654,052 filed March 13, 1946, now Patent No. 2,548,424, dated April 10, 1951. While many features of the present invention are applicable to various known temperature control systems,

other features thereof are particularly adapted for use with the system disclosed and claimed in my application identified above.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermostat having a lamp or other supplemental heat source associated therewith arranged in heat-conductive relation to the thermo-responsive element of such a thermostat and connected between the heat supply increasing contact of the thermostat and a conductor leading directly to an electric source so that the thermo-switch contacts may establish parallel circuits, one of which includes said lamp or heat source.

Other objects are to provide improved lamp mounting means, convenient and reliable adjustment means for such thermostats, convenient and reliable means for attaching the cover thereof, to provide eifective signal-indicating means on the cover and to provide means to prevent dust collecting on the contacts.

Another object is to provide a lamp mounted within a translucent thermostat housing so that light therefrom is visible through the housing.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the thermo-responsive element relative to the contacts that movement thereof due to temperature changes or due to changes in the thermostat setting adjustment means causes the contact surfaces to rub over each other to cause self cleaning.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from consideration of the specification as illustrated by the accompanying drawings of possible embodiments of the invention, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a temperature control system showing more or less schematically a thermostat embodying the signal means of the present invention connected to a heat supply controlling device, such as a damper regulator motor;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a room thermostat embodying the invention, the usual cover having been removed;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the structure of Fig. 2;

a Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

on the Divided and this application May 1,

Fig. 5 is a side view of the thermostat of Fig. 2 with the cover thereon, the cover being shown in generally vertical, longitudinal section, except that the upper part is shown in section taken to the right of the center of the instrument;

Fig. 5a is a fragmentary section of the base and cover;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical, longitudinal section of the thermostat shown in Fig. 5,

Referring to said drawings, the letter T indicates generally a room thermostat and the letters DM indicate generally a damper motor. The thermostat includes a thermo-responsilve element, such as the coiled bi-metal element H, carried by a bracket 12, which is connected through conductor |3b with terminal its, to which is connected conductor l3. 14 represents the on call contact, connected through conductor [5b with terminal l5a to which is connector conductor l5, and I6 represents the off call contact, connected through conductor llb with therminal Ila, to which is connected conductor IT.

The heat supply control device may consist of a damper regulator motor of standard construction, or may comprise a relay for controlling an oil burner, or for controlling the operation of the motor of a stoker, or may be an electricallyoperated gas valve. In the form shown, the heat supply control device consists of an electric motor 2! connected through suitable gearing (not shown) to drive, at a much reduced speed, the shaft 22, which carries cranks 23 and 24 for operating the draft and check dampers or valves of a heating plant. Usual or suitable commutating means are provided. This may take the form of a metal tube 25, shown in development in dotted lines, carried for rotation by shaft 22. It is formed with two insulating areas 25a and 25b. Cooperating with said tube are four brushes 26, 2i, 28 and 29. Brush 26 is connected through conductor 30 with motor 2|, the other side of which is connected through conductor ti and terminal 32 to the secondary winding 33 of a transformer 34, whose primary winding 35 is connected to a suitable source of alternating current. The other side of the winding 33 isconnected through terminal 36 and conductor 37 with brush 28 and with terminal 38, to which conductor 13 is connected. Brush 2? is connected through conductor 39 to on terminal 4%, to which terminal is connected the conductor i5. Brush 29 is connected through conductor ll with the off terminal 42, to which is connected the conductor l1. i

50 indicates a signal device, preferably a small electric lamp which not only serves to indicate the condition of the heat supply controlling device, but also serves as a supplemental heat source for increasing the sensitivity of the thermostat, as will be described more fully hereinafter. Said lamp is connected through conductor i with a terminal 52, to which is connected conductor the other end of which is connected to terminal 32 of the damper motor and thus to that side of the transformer secondary which is directly connected through conductor (H with the motor 2!. The other side of the lamp 5G is connected through conductor 54 with the on call contact M.

Before describing the details of the thermostat, the functions and operation of the system itself, as shown in Fig. 1, will be described.

Fig. 1 shows the parts in position where the damper motor has moved to drafts on position in response to the call of the thermostat T, due to an electrical connection between bi-metal element H and contact i l. The operation of motor '2! has terminated as a result of the insulation a coming under brush 2?. It will be noted, however, that a circuit is open from the transformer secondary 33, terminal 32, through conductor 53, terminal 52, conductor 5i, through lamp 5!], conductor 55, on call contact M, bimetal element H, bracket l2, conductor I31), terminal [3a, conductor [3, terminal 38, conductor 3?, terminal to the other side of the transformer secondary. This circuit is completed solely through the bi-metal lement ll contacting the on call contact l4 and the lamp will, therefore, continue illuminated as long as the thermostat is in the position shown. This condition is quite independentof the commutating means in the damper motor. During this time heat from the lamp. is conducted to the bi-metal element H and serves, together with a resulting rise in the temperature of the room, to cause the bi-metal element H to move to the left. This operation is preferably of the snap action type, so that the bi-metal leaves the on call contact M'and immediately makes connection with the off call contact It. This breaks the circuit through lamp 5% and causes it to be extinguished. The circuit is, however,

completed from transformer secondary 33, terminal 32, conductor 3i, through motor 2!, conductor 3t, brush 26, metallic tube 25, brush 29, conductor 4!, terminal 42, conductor ll, terminal I la, conductor lib, 01f call contact it, bimetal II, bracket 12, conductor i327, terminal Ha, conductor [3, terminal 38 conductorfil, and terminal 36 to the other side of the transformer secondary. This energizes motor 21 and causes,

it to rotate shaft 22 to move the damper motor to drafts off position. As soon as the insulaunder brush 28 at the end of the operation to the draftsoif position of the damper motor. With the transformer 34 of the size usually used, the

voltage of its secondary winding 33. is considerably reduced, due to the current flowing throughmotor 2!. Therefore, while the lamp Sillsil-- 4 luminated during the operation of the damper motor from the "drafts on to the drafts oif position, the lamp will not be fully illuminated, but only partially. The damper motor is now in the drafts off position and the lamp 50 is extinguished, due to the bi-metal element H not being in contact with the on call contact Hi.

If now, the temperature drops, or for any other reason bi-metal II is moved from the off call contact [6 to the on call contact 54, the lamp will be immediately illuminated through the circuit including bi-metal element H, as previously described. During the operation of the damper motor from drafts off, to drafts on position, the lamp will be dimly illuminated, due to the voltage. drop in the transformer secondary. However, at the end of the operation, the lamp will be illuminated brightly and will remain illuminated, thus signalling to the user that the J damper motor is in drafts on position. During this tim the heat radiated by lamp 5% affects bi-metal element H and causes it to move from on call contact It 'to the off call contact it earlier than it would do otherwise, so that the sensitivity of the thermostat is increased thereby. It will be noted also that while the motor 2! is operated to either the drafts off or the drafts on position, the lamp 5:} will be illuminated dimly and thus signal to the user that a change in draft position is taking place. The novel systern just described has the advantage that the illumination of the signal lamp 59 is controlled by the thermostat bi-metal itself and is independent of the particular type of commutator, if

any, which may be present in the heat supply control device with which it is employed.

The thermostat The thermostat illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, comprises a base 60 formed of a suitable insulating material, preferably of molded plastic material, having a forward face ti and shown as formed with rim t2 extendingrearwardly therefrom. Pivotally mounted as upon th rivet 63 is the bracket l2 supporting the bi-metal element H. Also mounted on-rivet E3 and directly under the horizontal portion of bracket I2 is the shifting fork member $4, extending upwardly therefrom and being split near its upper end, as appears from Fig. 4, to receive a rivet 55 having a head 65a, against which bears a cupped spring washer 66d, the outer rim of which bears against the forked portion of member 3. The rivet 55 is carried by the adjusting lever 55, which overlies the shifting fork 64 and is pivoted by means of screw or rivet 6?. The adjusting lever has an outward extension 3611 (see Fig. 5) to which is attached the vertical extension 6%, carrying, in turn, the horizontal extension 860, which projects through the cover and provides a manually adjustable member which also serves as a pointer to indicate the setting of the instrument through the agency of the usual scale (not shown) on the front of the cover. The bracket [2 is provided with a projection [2a threadably receiving an adjusting screw 1'0, the head ma of which bears against a. projection 6 3a, forming part of the shifting fork 64. Interposed between the members l2a and 64a is a coiled spring ll, tending to force said members apart. By turning screw '56, the position of the bracket l'zrelative to th shifting fork 64 may be'readily adjusted. p In the form shown, the upper end of the bimetal element I! is provided with a contact. rivet 15, which may conveniently serve to attach to the element H a soft steel washer 16, serving as an armature for a permanent magnet '17 supported upon a contact bracket 18 by means of a rivet 19 of good contact material, one end of which comprises the on call contact l4, shown schematically in Fig. 1. The contact bracket 18 is attached to the base by means of rivet 18a. 80 indicates another contact bracket attached to the base by rivet 80a. It carries a contact screw 8| formed with a contact point l6, forming the off call contact 16 shown in Fig. l. The bi-metal thermo-responsive element l l is so arranged that when its temperature rises the upper end of its contact blade portion tends to move toward the left, viz., toward contact IE5, and toward the right upon a decrease in temperature. Since the coil portion of the element l l is located and supported in an offset relation to the contacts I4 and IE, it will be obvious that when bracket I2 is shifted about the axis of rivet 63 the free end of the blade portion of H will be given an oblique motion with respect to the contacts [4 and I6 so that after the blade has shifted from one of said contacts to the other it will be caused to slide thereon thus rubbing off any lint, dirt or oxide or the like. This self-cleaning action at the contacts also takes place as an incident to temperature changes.

The lamp 59 is conveniently supported by means of a spring clip which forms the conductor 5! shown in Fig. 1. Said clip surrounds the lamp 59, which may be of the usual telephone signal lamp type and makes contact with the contact terminal 50a of the lamp. Contact with the other terminal 50b of the lamp is prevented by the insulating material am. The clip 51 is shown supported upon a metal post 51b by means of screw file. It is imbedded in the base 69 and receives at its other end the terminal screw 52, corresponding to the terminal 52 of Fig. l.

The other terminal 5% of the lamp is contacted by means of the conducting piece 54, corresponding to the conductor 54 in Fig. 1, which is provided with a contact finger 54a bearing on lamp contact 502), and is held in place by the rivet 18a, and is, therefore, in electrical connection with the on call contact M. It will, therefore, be seen that through the means shown, the lamp 511 is connected in the circuit in the manner indicated schematically in Fig. 1.

It will also be seen that the lamp 50 may be readily replaced by removing the screw 51c, whereupon the burned out lamp, together with its clip 5|, may be removed and replaced by another lamp and clip. The lamp, clip, and insulating material am will, therefore, form a separate article of manufacture.

The openings 85 in the base, preferably flared as at 85a, serve to receive attachment screws for securing the thermostat base to a wall. For this purpose, the base is formed solid adjacent said holes, as indicated at 86 in Fig. 3. These lugs serve to support the pressure of the holding screws whereby distortion of the base is prevented.

By referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that 6 ring to Figs. 2 and 5, it will be noted that the base 60 is formed adjacent the rivet 61 with a raised boss 61a against which the adjusting lever 56 bears. This provides clearance under the lever 66 to accommodate the forked lever 64.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that a cover is provided. This serves to protect the mechanism and carries, in the usual manner, a thermometer tube 9| adjacent the thermometer scale 910. on the face of the cover. The cover is preferably of translucent material so that light from the lamp 5!) may illuminate the cover generally. It is preferred, however, to provide a window 92 of suitable colored translucent plastic or glass to make the light from lamp 59 more readily visible. The upper end of the cover 90 is provided with a preferably centrally located opening 94 (Fig. 6). Adjacent said opening a baffle 95 is preferably provided to shield the contact points from dust, which might otherwise settle thereon. The location of this baffle is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. A corresponding opening or openings 96 are formed at the bottom of the cover. At least one of these openings, as shown at 96a, extends to the bottom of the cover to provide flexibility of the cover when applying or removing it from the base. The cover is held in place on the base by any suitable means, such as a small lug 91 (Fig. 5a) formed on the inside of the cover, which lug engages behind the shoulders 98 formed in the base. To facilitate application of the cover and to cause it to be sprung apart during application to the base, the base is preferably formed also with recesses 99, having inclined faces. During the application of the cover, the lugs 9! bear against the inclined faces 99, causing the cover to be spread apart. The lugs 91 thereupon spring in place behind the shoulders 98. The lugs 91 and the edge of the shoulders 98 are rounded so that it will be possible to withdraw the cover. By placing the recesses 98 at the extreme bottom of the base, the formation thereof presents no difficulties in the molding operation, since they inay be formed by a corresponding extension on the mold. Similarly, the molding of the cover with lugs 91 thereon presents no difficulties, since the cover is sufficiently elastic to permit the lugs 9'! to be forced out of corresponding recesses in the mold when the cover is stripped from the mold core.

It will be noted that the construction shown and described will serve admirably to accomplish the objects stated above. It is to be understood, however, that the constructions disclosed above are intended merely as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting as various: modifications therein may be made without departing from the invention as defined by a proper interpretation of the claim which follows.

I claim:

In a thermostat, a thermo-responsive element, a switch including a. contact arm actuated by said element and a pair of opposing contacts alternatively engaged by said arm, a first termi nal electrically connected to one of said pair of contacts, a second terminal electrically connected to the other of said pair of contacts, a third terminal electrically connected to said contact arm, a lamp in thermal relation to said thermoresponsive element, one side of said lamp being electrically connected to said first terminal, a fourth terminal electrically connected to the other side of said lamp, a continuously closed circuit between said fourth and third terminals,

and control means having opposing extremes of motion in which said first and second terminals are respectively and alternatively included in said closed circuit, both said first and second terminals being included in said closed circuit in intermediate positions of said control means.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 8 Name Date Lee May 10, 1932 Persons Aug. 30, 1932 Persons Aug. 30, 1932 Colman Sept. 6, 1932 Persons Feb. 18, 1936 Davis Dec. 7, 1937 Samuels July 16, 1940 Drake Apr. 14, 1942 White Apr. 14, 1942 Crise Sept. 7, 1948 

